DES MOINES, Iowa – On the first day of the 2013 USA Track and Field Championships, the Blue Devils excelled with Duke alums Cydney Ross and Shannon Rowbury advancing to the next round in their respective events Thursday, June 20 in Des Moines, Iowa. Not to be outdone, redshirt junior Juliet Bottorff finished seventh in the women’s star-studded 10,000 meter to close out the evening.

Ross advanced to the semifinal round of the women’s 800 after clocking a 2:02.77 in the first round of the event to finish fourth in her heat and tenth overall. The St. Louis, Mo., native went through the first lap in just over a minute, sitting in fifth place. She excelled in the middle of the pack to finish fourth in her heat and tenth overall after clocking a time of 2:02.77, the second fastest time of her career. The recent graduate will return to the track Friday in the event’s semifinal at 8:08 p.m.

In the women’s 1,500, Rowbury also advanced to the finals by crossing the line in 4:11.71, earning an automatic qualifying spot in her heat and finishing fourth overall. The San Fransisco, Calif., native will race Saturday, June 22 at 4:46 p.m.

Bottorff wrapped up the night in the women’s 10,000 final with a time of 33:33.77 to place seventh overall. The Newark, Del., native was the second collegiate finisher in the event that was won by Shalane Flanagan with a stadium record time of 31:43.20.

Next up, rising sophomore Megan Clark will kick off tomorrow’s action for the Blue Devils as she competes in the junior division of the women’s pole vault.